The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-27

neglect it. You know | let my rabbit
staIve To death, and mother said ther
I did not deserve 20 ever have another
pet. must go back, Hal. OF course
it is hard for me TO give up the fun; bu
there is no help for it as far rs l cal
see"
ii don'tsee Bat there's father; lets
ask him about it." said Hal, rs Mr.
Nelson appeared in the doorway of the
stable. 81 know he viii say you would
be Foolish to go"
II at was exactly what Mr.. Nelson
did say, and, he added, 81 will give you
what you expected to get for the bird,
Hugh, and that viii make it all right,
and save you the trouble of taking it to
the fair"
That's not it, Uncle. l don't care
so much for the money, but l don't
want to let the bird die"
But have no way of sending you
home. Hugh. can not go to Barclay
again until Friday, and as it is twelve
miles from the railroad and three from
your fathers farm. there would be no adj
vantage in your going by rail. No, you
must give up this idea, ny boy, and try
to forget it. And, after all. the life of
bird is very small affair and not
worth so much worry"
Very likely it will live until Fri
day." said Hal cheerfully, land if it
don't it won't matter much, as father
says. Come on, let's set up the tar
get"
But it was with a very sober face and
tagging steps that Hugh followed his
cousin to the Toulouse to get the nee
essary nail, and he showed no enthu-
siasm when his arrow pierced the mark.
His mind was dwelling on that poor
little canary twenty miles away, and
the promise he had made regarding it.
When several of the neighborhood
boys called to see Hal and take part in
the sport, Hugh slipped away, and rum
ming into the barn, threw himself Oh
pile of hay in the loft to think over his
position.
The question he had to decide was a
very difficult one. He wanted SO much
10 stay for the picnic and the works.
1t would be terribly hard to give up all
the promised enjoyment and as his
uncle had said the life of bird was not
of much consequence, anyway, and his
mother would surely excuse him. under
all the circumstances, for breaking his
promise. And if he went home he
would anger and disappoint Hal. 1t
was a long walk, too. Twenty miles,
and the road was dusgy and unshaded.
He could not reach home until dark,
even if he started at once. No; it was
certainly better that he should stay at
his unclc's. There was a chance. too
though very slim one-that Ralph
would 90 into the Toulouse and see
the bird, or that his mother would re-
member it.
Then the recollection of the rabbits
he had allowed to starve to death came
to disturb him. Would his mother ex-
cuse him for breaking his promise
when he had assured her 50 earnestly
that the bird should not be neglected.?
No. he was sure she would not. And
she would never trust him again.
But l can't, can't 60" he NUT
tered, with choking sound in his
throat thaC was almost sob. Its
little too much 10 expect a fellow to
give up every tkj9J.'
Bat, after all, his sense of right con-
quercd, and when Hal went into the
house half an hour later, to inquire for
his cousin, he found u note on the bu-
reau of the room they had occupied the
night previous. which ran rs follows:
Dear Hal: I'm awful sorry; but l
think l ought to go Don't be put out
about ii.
But Hal s0GS put out" and declared
over and over again that he would
never forgive Hugh for having treated
him so shabbily. and that he would
never again ask him to pay him visit.
Perhaps he would have felt more
kindly toward his cousin had he seen
him toiling along the hot, dusty road,
weary and footsore before he had gone
ten miles. But he kept bravely on, and
ut dusk was only three miles from home.
Then he was so tired it seemed to him
as if he could not walk another step,
and he sat down by the roadside. hop
ing some wagon would pass, and he
could get ride.
1t was not long before he heard the
sound of horses hoofS. and a light
buggy and two chestnut horses driven
by an elderly man, came in sight. Hugh
rose to his feet and made his request.
which was granted at once, and he
gave sigh of relief us he seated himself
in the buggy and the horses started
briskly forward.
"Who are you, and where are you
going?" asked the gentleman, who had
a prompt, decisive way of speaking.
Hugh gave his name, and said he was
on his way home from Seaford; but this
did not satisfy his interro gator, who,
having nothing else to do. piled him
with questions until he learned the
whole story.
You did right" he said. Il am
glad to find a boy with so much prin-
ciPle. Make it rule to keep your
promises. and you will win the conf
dence of all who know YOU"
These words were very comforting to
Hugh. who had expected to he ridi-
culed. and when he parted from the
old gentleman he no longer had any